Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

In 1987, Indiana became the first state to mandate the development of a Tech Prep curriculum. Since Tech Prep was essentially an unfunded legislative mandate, this study was designed to determine whether school corporation wealth or high school size were implementing factors. A one-way and two-way analysis of variance along with a chi square statistical test were utilized to analyze the data in this study. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The wealth of school corporations did not affect the stages of Tech Prep implementation in Indiana high schools. (2) Differences did exist in the stages of implementing the five criteria associated with the Tech Prep legislation regardless of school corporation wealth. (3) The high school size classification was a factor in the stage of implementing an action plan for a Tech Prep program, but was not a factor for the following criteria: identification of a career cluster, development of a scope and sequence, development of core curriculum classes, and establishment of articulation agreements with post secondary institutions. (4) Ten pre-determined barriers associated with Tech Prep implementation were perceived by Indiana high school principals to be negative factors in implementing Tech Prep with a lack of time for staff development and a lack of financial support being the major barriers. Other analyzed barriers to Tech Prep implementation were negative attitudes, staff resistance, lack of understanding, lack of post-secondary support, local flexibility, lack of business support, lack of staff development, and pressure for a quick success. An implication of the study not statistically tested but supported by the review of literation and Indiana principal responses on the survey instrument was the need for state and federal financial support. In order to fully implement Tech Prep, the program must become a funded mandate.

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